The Columbus journal., 1887-01-05
CAJOLED BY A WOMAN.
An Incident In the Experience Of . Secret
Service Detective.

In the summer of 1864 complaints
we're made to our bureau that some ont
was SHOWING" bogus shiDplasters in
the neighborhood Of Green Bay. A
good many hundred dollars worth OF
the currency was let loose all At once.
and l was detailed to proceed to Wis
consin and work up the case. 1t was
settled before 1 started that the ''stuf''
had been printed from plates made by
an engraver known to Us as ''Slick
Sam" His right name was, l believe,
George Disston, and he was then in
State prison on q long sentence. It was
pretty certain that the plates had fallen
into the hands of some of his pals, and
were being made use of IN q lively man
ner. 1t q probable that the printing
was being done in Chicago. and that an
agent" had struck Green Bay to I'M
load.
Upon reaching the pin" mentioned l
found that almost every branch OF trade
had suffered, and pretty soon l was able
to show that most Of the bogus money
had been passed upon them during one
week. Then they began to hunt up
sales and remember buyers, and it was
settled that the shower" was Al old
grsyhaired man named Newell. who
lived on u farm q few miles away. Hc
had purchased dry goods. notions. hard.
ware. drugs, and almost everything
else. paying shinplasters which ap-
peared almost new. 1t was plain to me.
after getting thus far, that he had
bought his bogus money outright of
some agent or had sent to parties in
some city for il.
swOre out a warrant for him, took
tho cars to within four miles of his
house. and accomplished tho rest of the
way on foot. He lived in the woods. IN
a log house. and had but q few acres
cleared. Evidences of poverty and
shiftlessness could be found OH every
hand. l was quite certain that l saw
him about the door of the house while !
was yet some ways of. but when !
reached it the door was shut aud no
one was in sight. However. after l had
done some lively rapping a muscular
woman about 80 years old opened the
door and inquired my business. l re-
piled that was an agent from Chicago
and desired to see her husband. She
invited me in, believing. as l meant her
to believe, that I had come as tho agent
Of the counterfcitcrs. She stated that
her husband was of hunting. but would
be home soon.
After We had talked for half an hour
or more tho woman's demeanor suddenly
changed. What aroused her suspicion
| can't say. but l saw that she looked on
me with iistrust. Thinking that the
plain way was the best way I told her
who | was and nv errand.
$50 you are q detective. come to arrest
nv husband!' she called in a loud
voice
l sought to calm her. and had instant
She settled down in her chair
and said she had been expecting it for
weeks, and that her husband must make
The best of the situation. She shed tears
and seemed much affected. and as the |
lime passed and l wanted to 60 out and
hunt up Newell she excused his con. |
!iued absence and kept me seated on
The plea that he must soon show up. l
had been there two hours when we
heard a voice shouting for help. While
ran out doors she rushed into the
other room. passed halfway around
The house to find the old man hanging
lead downward. hands on tho ground
md feet in a small window four or i've
'eet up. After l bad released him and
AIKEN him into custody ! found that he
run INTO the O0m when he saw me